Multi-purpose dishwasher rack

ABSTRACT

The dishwasher rack fits inside a dishwasher crate of the dishwasher assembly. The dishwasher rack includes a plurality of injecting molded plastic horizontal bars for withholding high temperatures and plurality of injecting molded plastic vertical bars for s withholding high temperatures. The plurality of injecting molded plastic vertical bars is intersectingly attached to the plurality of injecting molded plastic horizontal bars to form plurality of compartments. The plurality of compartments allows receiving of the dishware in the space created in between the horizontal bars and the vertical bars.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 61/619,814 filed on Apr. 3, 2012 which are herebyincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to a dishwasher rack, and moreparticularly relates to a dishwasher rack for storing, handling andwashing of stemware inside the dishwasher assembly.

2. Description of Related Art

Stemware includes glassware having stems, such as wine glasses andchampagne flutes as well as some serving pieces such as parfait glasses,whether made of glass, crystal, or acrylic. Glassware refers generallyto individual drinking glasses, such as beverage containers, whethermade of glass, metal, plastic or ceramic material. For convenience,stemware and glassware will simply be referred to herein as glassware,it being understood that both stemware and glassware are intended unlessotherwise stated.

The problem attendant in handling, washing and storing glassware is thatit may be fragile, prone to chipping, cracking, etching, scratching,watermarks, water spotting, and breakage. In particular, in a dishwasherglassware often shifts or tips over during the washing process from thewater spray of the washer. When glassware shifts or tips over, if oftenbreaks or may collect water or food debris that would otherwise bewashed away.

If simply positioned in a tilted position in the top rack of adishwashing unit, glassware tends to fall against itself during washing,causing damage and affecting the ability of the dishwasher to clean andrinse the glassware free of dirt and food particles. Hand-carryingglassware from one location to another (such as from storage to kitchen)increases the risk of damage as well, even if the glassware is moved byhand in a small quantity at a time. If using a tray, there is still arisk of damage.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,556,231 issued to Herbst et al discloses a rack andassociated dip for use in washing stemware in a residential dishwasher.However, the dip increases handling and may not facilitate the efficientwashing of larger numbers of stemware at one time.

Therefore there is a need of a dishwasher rack to fit inside thedishwasher assembly in household fittings. Further, the dishwasher rackshould bear the high temperatures, humidity, and water conditions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a dishwasherrack to fit inside a dishwasher crate of the dishwasher assembly isprovided.

An object of the present invention is to provide a dishwasher rackhaving a plurality of injecting molded plastic horizontal bars and aplurality of injecting molded plastic vertical bars intersectinglyattached to the plurality of horizontal bars to form plurality ofcompartments. The plurality of compartments receives dishwares.

Another object of the present invention is to provide dishwasher rackwith an open grid construction to allow water to freely flow into andout of the crate during dishwashing and drying processes.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a dishwasheraccessory to fit inside a dishwasher assembly having a dishwasher crateand a dishwasher rack to fit inside the dishwasher crate. Further, thedishwasher crate is having a plurality of handles for moving thedishware from one place to another place.

Another object of the present invention is to create the dishwasher rackand dishwasher accessory with the injected molded plastic material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a dishwasher rack inside adishwasher crate, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 2 illustrates a dishwasher accessory fitted inside a dishwasherassembly in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

While this technology is illustrated and described in a preferredembodiment, the dishwasher accessory may be produced in many differentconfigurations, forms and materials. There is depicted in the drawings,and will herein be described in detail, as a preferred embodiment of theinvention, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to beconsidered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention andthe associated functional specifications for its construction and is notintended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated. Thoseskilled in the art will envision many other possible variations withinthe scope of the technology described herein.

Reference will now be made in detail to several embodiments of theinvention which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Whereverfeasible and convenient, the same reference numerals are used in thefigures and the description to refer to the same or like parts. Thedrawings are in a simplified form and not to precise scale. For purposesof convenience and clarity only, directional terms, such as top, bottom,left, right, up, down, over, above, below, beneath, rear, and front maybe used with respect to the accompanying drawings. These and similardirectional terms should not be strictly construed to limit the scope ofthe invention. In addition, words such as attached, affixed, coupled,connected and similar terms with their inflectional morphemes are usedinterchangeably, unless the difference is noted or made otherwise clearfrom the context. These words and expressions do not necessarily signifydirect connections, but include connections through mediate componentsand devices.

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a dishwasher rack 10 inside adishwasher crate 20, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention. The dishwasher rack 10 includes plurality ofinjecting molded plastic horizontal bars 12 such as 12 a, 12 b and 12 cand plurality of injecting molded plastic vertical bars 14 such as 14 a,14 b and 14 c. The plurality of injecting molded plastic vertical bars14 are intersectingly attached to the injecting molded plastichorizontal bars to form plurality of compartments 16 such as 16 a, 16 b,16 c and 16 d. The plurality of compartments 16 receives plurality ofdishware 18 such as 18 a, 18 b and 18 c in the space created in betweenthe horizontal bars 10 and the vertical bars 20. The dishware 18 issystematically placed in the spaces to avoid breakage duringdishwashing. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention as shownin FIG. 1 the dishware 18 are glasses. However it is to be noted thatthe space plurality of compartments 18 may be adjusted to place dishwareof different sizes. Examples of dishware 18 include but not limited tocup, plates, glasses, dishes, saucers etc.

FIG. 2 illustrates a dishwasher accessory 200 fitted inside a dishwasherassembly in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the presentinvention. The dishwasher accessory 200 includes the dishwasher rack 10and the dishwasher crate 20. As shown, the dishwasher accessory 200 isplaced inside a dishwasher assembly. The dishwasher rack 10 is having anopen grid construction to allow water to freely flow into and out of thedishwasher crate 20 during dishwashing process. The dishware accessoryprevents any breakage to the dishware during the dishwashing andshifting process. Examples of breakage includes but not limited tochips, cracks, scratches, and other damages.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention the dishwashercrate 20 may further include plurality of handles (not shown in figures)to move the dishware 18 from one place to another.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the dishwasheraccessory 200 is made up of injecting molded plastic such as highdensity polyethylene or polypropylene. However, it is to be readilyapparent to those skilled in the art that other materials may also beused to withhold high temperatures, humidity and water conditions,without deviating from the scope of the present invention.

The present invention offers various advantages such as the dishwasheraccessory may be fitted with any dishwasher assembly. Further, it isvery easy to carry the dishwasher accessory from one place to another.During the shift from one place to another the dishwasher accessorymaintains the dishes in its position and prevents any breakage.

The foregoing discussion discloses and describes merely exemplaryembodiments of the technology described herein. One skilled in the artwill readily recognize from such discussion and from the accompanyingdrawings that various changes, modifications and variations can be madetherein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

1. A dishwasher rack to fit inside a dishwasher crate of the dishwasherassembly, said dishwasher rack comprising: plurality of injecting moldedplastic horizontal bars for withholding high temperatures; and pluralityof injecting molded plastic vertical bars for withholding hightemperatures, said plurality of injecting molded plastic vertical barsintersectingly attached said injecting molded plastic horizontal bars toform plurality of compartments, said plurality of compartments toreceive dishware, characterized in that dishware are systematicallyplaced to avoid breakage during dishwashing.
 2. The dishwasher rackaccording to claim 1 comprising an open grid construction to allow waterto freely flow into and out of said dishwasher crate during dishwashingand drying processes.
 3. The dishwasher rack according to claim 1wherein the space between said plurality of compartments may be adjustedto place dishware of different sizes.
 4. The dishwasher rack accordingto claim 1 wherein said plurality of injecting molded plastic verticalbars and said plurality of injecting molded plastic horizontal bars maycomprise of either high density polyethylene or polypropylene.
 5. Adishwasher accessory to fit inside a dishwasher assembly, saiddishwasher accessory comprising: a dishwasher crate; and a dishwasherrack to fit inside said dishwasher crate, said dishwasher rackcomprising: plurality of injecting molded plastic horizontal bars forwithholding high temperatures; and plurality of injecting molded plasticvertical bars for withholding high temperatures, said plurality ofinjecting molded plastic vertical bars intersectingly attached saidinjecting molded plastic horizontal bars to form plurality ofcompartments, said plurality of compartments to receive dishware,characterized in that dishware are systematically stacked to avoidbreakage during dishwashing.
 6. The dishwasher rack according to claim 5comprising an open grid construction to allow water to freely flow intoand out of said dishwasher crate during dishwashing and dryingprocesses.
 7. The dishwasher rack according to claim 5 wherein the spacebetween said plurality of compartments may be adjusted to stack dishwareof different sizes.
 8. The dishwasher rack according to claim 5 whereinsaid plurality of injecting molded plastic vertical bars and saidplurality of injecting molded plastic horizontal bars may comprise ofeither high density polyethylene or polypropylene.
 9. The dishwashercrate according to claim 5 further comprising plurality of handles.